Children with special educational needs and disabilities are facing nearly a year-long wait for care plans, according to Tatton MP Esther McVey.
McVey has condemned the delays as “unacceptable” and is demanding immediate action. Councils are legally required to issue an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) within 20 weeks of a request from a school or parent. However, McVey reports that all three councils in her constituency are missing this deadline.
Data from the Cheshire West SEND Accountability group reveals that the average wait time for an EHCP in the area ranges from 30 to 50 weeks, with only a small percentage of plans completed within the legal timeframe.
McVey criticized the new government’s approach, saying, “The last Conservative government invested heavily in SEND provision, but demand continues to rise, and more needs to be done. The new government’s decisions will exacerbate the problem and increase waiting times.”
During a Parliamentary debate on SEND provision, McVey highlighted that plans to add VAT to private school fees could worsen the situation. Although students with an EHCP would be exempt from VAT, many of the 100,000 SEND children in private schools do not have one. The delays in obtaining EHCPs often lead parents to choose private schools for better support.
With the impending VAT increase, many parents may struggle with the added costs and face the difficult choice of either disrupting their child’s education or moving them to an already strained state sector, where they might still not receive the necessary support.
McVey has demanded clarity on what impact assessment the government has conducted regarding the VAT increase on private schools and its effect on SEND students and school places. The Minister was unable to provide answers, prompting McVey to request further information from department officials.